By KEILE CAMPBELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

WOMEN in politics still face entrenched resistance, but Parliament remains “independent and autonomous”, Speaker of the House Patricia Deveaux said yesterday as officials outlined plans for a women’s forum alongside next week’s Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) conference in Nassau.

At a press briefing, Ms Deveaux said barriers persist, including resistance from men reluctant to cede control. “There will always be barriers as women, because males are always going to give us a very tough time,” she said.

Senate President J Lashell Adderley said the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference, running in parallel with the regional meeting, will tackle systemic obstacles—from gender-biased legislation and budgeting to the creation of women’s parliamentary caucuses and scrutinising laws through a gender lens. “It is a matter of addressing those impediments,” she said. “Coming out of these conferences you will find a rebirth of persons propelling and encouraging women to stand for political office.” She added that greater visibility should spur new candidates: “The hope of women all over the world as we see more women take political office is that that growth will be encouraged and continued.”

Clerk of Parliament David Forbes cited the election of Dame Janet Bostwick as the first woman MP as a turning point, noting that while more women now contest elections, many still fall short of winning House seats, with some later appointed to the Senate. He said CPA initiatives aim to keep parliaments aligned on broadening representation.

Organisers said they expect the women’s conference to strengthen that push and set the tone for further initiatives to expand female participation across the Commonwealth.